Bridgeport Parks and Recreation's Fall & Holiday Activity Guide is hot off the press, offering programming for children and adults over the fall and winter months. Dates have been set for annually anticipated events, including the Oct. 21 Hay Bales Fall Festival at Bridgeport Recreation Complex, Oct. 31 trick-or-treat, Nov. 30 Light-Up Night & Tree Lighting Ceremony and Dec. 2 Bridgeport Christmas Parade and Jingle Bell 5K Fun Run. 

 

Children's classes include the always-popular fall baking class which this season will take place Dec. 9 and feature the baking of gingerbread men cookies. Instructor Brenda Smith said the hands-on instruction teaches measuring, blending, rolling, cutting and backing techniques, not ot mention that all little bakers - ages 8 and up - will leave with their own personally-crafted cookies. 

 

Also on the slate for fall and winter are karate classes with Kevin Drummond and Little Explorers with Anita Jesmer. There will be two seven-week karate courses. One started Sept. 5 and runs through Oct. 19; the other scheduled for Oct. 24 through Dec. 14. Both focus on the Chito-Ryu style of karate, incorporating punching, throwing, kicking and self-defense techniques. The first Little Explorers class is underway as the pre-school-age students learn about reptiles and amphibians. Coming up are series of classes revolving around the following topics: Bats, Owls and Spiders (Oct. 4-25) and Native American Cultures (Nov. 1-29). Space is limited for a special Dec. 7 Little Explorers class during which children will learn about animal survival during winter months. The event doubles as a day out for parents who may need to do a little Christmas shopping without the little ones, Jesmer said.

 

Youth sports for the fall and winter season are all-inclusive of tennis, wrestling and the popular Fast Break recreational basketball league. Wrestling begins the week of Nov. 13 with a Nov. 6 informational meeting to precede instruction. Fall tennis classes are  Sept. 11, 18 and 25, as well as Oct. 2. Wrestling is appropriate for kids ages 5 to 15 and all practices are at Benedum Civic Center. Tennis classes are available for kids age 4 to 14 and that instruction will take place at the city tennis courts next to Bridgeport Pool. 

 

Fast Break basketball runs Sept. 25 through Nov. 2 with all games played at Heritage Christian School gymnasium. Deadline for middle school and high school athletes is Sept. 15. 

 

Activities are available for adults, too. Whether looking to get in shape, pick up a new hobby or brush up on domestic skills, there is something for everyone. The Refit & Strength fitness class with Cynthia Campbell runs Sept. 11 through Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 through Dec. 4. Stamp Camp with Kathy Hamrick is Sept. 24, Oct. 24 and Nov. 28 and a fall adult baking class with Brenda Smith is Oct. 28. At that hands-on session, baking enthusiasts from age 16 and up will learn to make the award-winning West Virginia Harvest Festival Apple Pie.

 

Among other special events slated for fall is the Oct. 2-4 DNR Hunters’ Safety Course at the Benedum Civic Center.

 

Access the activities guide HERE.